In the heart of Black Hills, Lodge at Palmer Gulch is a haven for families and adventure-seekers alike. Unwind in the sauna or spa tub, get active with basketball and horseback riding, or explore shopping on site. Enjoy continental breakfast at one of two restaurants serving lunch and dinner options.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial - 8 min drive - 8.5 km
Mount Rushmore - 10 min drive - 9.9 km
1880 Train - 10 min drive - 11.6 km
Prairie Berry Winery - 12 min drive - 9.8 km
Getting around
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) - 45 min drive
Restaurants
The Peak Grill And Tap Room - 1 min walk
Alpine Inn - 9 min drive
The Front Porch - 17 min drive
Ruby House Restaurant - 17 min drive
Dairy Queen - 15 min drive
About this property
Lodge at Palmer Gulch
Featuring a free water park, Lodge at Palmer Gulch puts you within a 10-minute drive of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Mount Rushmore. Guests can take a dip in one of 2 outdoor pools or grab a bite to eat at The Peak Grill & Tap Room, which is one of 2 restaurants and serves lunch and dinner. A bar/lounge, a fitness center, and a hot tub are other highlights. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff and location.
At a glance
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Hotel size
61 rooms
Arranged over 3 floors
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Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
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Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
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Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
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Children
Up to 3 children (1 year old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
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Pets
Pets allowed (dogs only)*
Service animals welcome
Specific rooms only, restrictions apply*
Off-leash area available
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free onsite self parking
Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking on site
Property amenities
Food and drink
Free continental breakfast each morning 7:30 AM–10:00 AM
2 restaurants
Bar/lounge
Coffee shop
Barbecue grills
Traveling with children
Children stay free (see details)
Free water park access
Children's pool
Mini golf
Playground
Grocery/convenience store
Children's menu
Pool gate
What to do
Basketball
Volleyball
Mini golf
Horse riding/rentals
Shopping
Fishing
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Horse riding nearby
Working away
Business center
4 meeting rooms
Conference space (500 square feet)
Services
Front desk (limited hours)
Concierge services
Tour/ticket assistance
Laundry facilities
Bicycle rentals
Facilities
1 building/tower
ATM/banking
Picnic area
Terrace
Fireplace in lobby
Fitness center
2 outdoor pools
Free water park
Hot tub
Sauna
Waterslide
Banquet hall
Accessibility
Elevator
Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible van parking
Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
Wheelchair-accessible lounge
Well-lit path to entrance
Stair-free path to entrance
Pool hoist on site
Room amenities
Be entertained
Flat-screen television
Cable TV channels
Home comfort
Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
Iron/ironing board
Sleep well
3 bedrooms
Free crib/infant bed
Bed sheets provided
Freshen up
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Towels
Stay connected
Free WiFi
Free local calls
More
Daily housekeeping
Special features
Dining
The Peak Grill & Tap Room - This restaurant serves lunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. A children's menu is available.
Turtle Town - This restaurant serves lunch and dinner. A children's menu is available. Open daily.
Fees & policies
Children & extra beds
Rollaway beds are available for USD 10.00 per day
Pets
Service animals exempt from fees
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of USD 25.00 per pet, per day
Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)
The seasonal pool is open from May to September
Policies
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
Also known as
Lodge Palmer Gulch Hill City
Lodge Palmer Gulch
Palmer Gulch Hill City
Palmer Gulch
The Lodge At Palmer Gulch Hotel Hill City
Hotel At Palmer Gulch
At Palmer Gulch Hotel
Lodge at Palmer Gulch Hotel
Lodge at Palmer Gulch Hill City
Lodge at Palmer Gulch Hotel Hill City
Frequently asked questions
Is there a pool at Lodge at Palmer Gulch?
Yes, there are 2 outdoor pools and a children's pool.
Are pets allowed at Lodge at Palmer Gulch?
Yes, dogs are welcome. There's a charge of USD 25.00 per pet, per day. Service animals are exempt from fees. Dog exercise areas are available. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
Is parking offered on site at Lodge at Palmer Gulch?
Yes, there's free self parking.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Lodge at Palmer Gulch?
Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: midnight. Check-out time is 11 AM. Contactless check-out is available.
What is there to do at Lodge at Palmer Gulch and nearby?
Have fun with onsite activities like horseback riding and fishing. Additional recreation onsite includes basketball and volleyball. Relax in the hot tub or enjoy the use of other amenities, which include 2 outdoor pools and a sauna. Lodge at Palmer Gulch also has a fitness center and a picnic area.
Are there restaurants at or near Lodge at Palmer Gulch?
Yes, there are 2 onsite restaurants.
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Lodge at Palmer Gulch Reviews
Reviews
8.8
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
8.8/10
Cleanliness
8.8/10
Staff & service
8.4/10
Amenities
8.6/10
Property conditions & facilities
8.6/10
Eco-friendliness
Popular mentions
Room
Service staff
Children
Breakfast
Location
Amenities
Family friendly
Recreation
Restaurant
Food
Reviews
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 1, 2025
Great place!
Tera
Tera, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 28, 2025
Great place to vacation
Jeffrey
Jeffrey, 5-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 10, 2025
August at Palmer Gulch
Check-in could have been smoother but overall the stay was great. There is so much to do at this campground that there is really no need to leave. It is kept very clean and other campers were very respectful overall. We will be back!
Christine
Christine, 3-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jun 16, 2025
Lovely location. Staff were wonderful, excellent customer service! Lodge is older but clean.
Barbara
Barbara, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 23, 2025
This property was very nice and inviting. Staff was excellent and made great dinner spot in Hill City. Enjoyed the quiet cabin and fireplace. Recommend highly
Marcia
Marcia, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 17, 2024
Great place to stay.
Jennifer
Jennifer, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 27, 2025
Perfect family spot for Mt. Rushmore visit!
The rooms in the lodge are really nice! Was expecting something more worn/rustic and was pleasantly surprised. Continental breakfast was really pared down... we chose to pay for the pancake breakfast in the tent. Pool near the lodge and hot tub are heated, great on cold nights. Only a 10 minute drive to the Mount Rushmore entrance and Keystone came in handy b/c the weather wasn't great during our stay and we had to stop multiple times at Mount Rushmore before the fog/mist cleared.
Shonna
Shonna, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 27, 2025
Great for family visit to Mt. Rushmore!
Stay in the Executive Lodge was nice. We had 5 people and needed 3 bedrooms. There aren't many options like this in the Keystone area... most accommodations suiting that many have a pull-out couch for 2 people. Executive lodges are nice and warm/heated. Living area is roomy with a dining table, fireplace, and sitting area. Master bedroom is nice & big. Other 2 bedrooms are smaller. Worked great for us BUT, for the price, I might have opted to stay another night in the Lodge which, also had really nice rooms.
Shonna
Shonna, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 11, 2024
Great place will come here again and recommend it to all others that are going to the area.
Merle
Merle, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 17, 2024
Staff was friendly and the amenities are great.
Jeddie
Jeddie, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 23, 2024
Its a great place for a family reunion.
Rita
Rita, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 5, 2024
On site dining was great!
Crystal
Crystal, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 7, 2023
Very nice place to stay family friendly!
Denise
Denise, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 8, 2024
Very clean and bed was comfortable staff was friendly
Lisa
Lisa, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 9, 2024
Awesome place
Renea
Renea, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 18, 2024
Everything was absolutely great, i didnt realize the resort was seasonal so that was a lil bit of a bummer but will absolutely go back.
Dustin
Dustin, 4-night trip
4/10 Fair
May 29, 2025
What I didn’t like about the property is our hot tub did not work the first night and that’s why I got a cabin with the hot tub so we can sit in it for the full two nights. I rented it and they didn’t refund anything second thing that I didn’t like is you can’t even Get in 10 minutes early. You have to be right on the dot with these people.
Candace
Candace, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 29, 2024
Amazing stay! So much to do on the property!
Carrie
Carrie, 4-night trip
8/10 Very good
Aug 12, 2024
The location is excellent and beautiful. The facilities have a ton of amenities, and great family features (pools, playgrounds, laundry, etc.).
Verified traveler
1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 27, 2024
Our stay was quick but great! We were able to book for longer and in a cabin next year!!
Verified traveler
3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 13, 2024
Such a great experience! Would definitely stay again. Lots to do with kids, staff was friendly, clean, beautiful surroundings.
Heather
Heather, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 5, 2024
Convenient to multiple local destinations.
Jack
Jack, 4-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jun 21, 2024
We enjoyed our stay just wish they had Wi-Fi.
JULIE
JULIE, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 19, 2024
More dinner spot
Sandra
Sandra, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 22, 2024
The setting was beautiful. It 7was lovely having a deck to sit on to enjoy the view